Mentha pipperita –
Peppermint
Common Name – Peppermint
Botanical Name – Mentha pipperita
Family
– Laminaceae
Other
names : Peppermint,
brady mint, balm mint, curled mint, lamb mint
Parts Used - The aerial parts are used prior to
flowering.
History - Peppermint first appeared in England
about 300 years ago as a naturally occurring hybrid of water mint and
spearmint. .
Description - It grows to 300-900mm, with purple
stems that are square. The tops are branching and produce green to purple
green, lanceolate to obvate pointed, toothed leaves that are 40-80mm long and
10-25mm wide. Flowers are usually mauve, though can on occasions be white, in
conical spikes 30-75mm long.
Cultivation - Peppermint grows well in a wide range
on conditions, though it is better suited to more temperature regions, here it
appears to grow more vigorously and produce more essential oil content.
Active Constituents - Essential oil, up to l.5%, containing
menthol, menthone and menthyl acetate as the major components, with
isomenthone, menthofuran, isomenthol, neomenthol, piperitone, a- & b-
pinene, limonene, cineole, pulegone, viridiflorol, ledol etc.
Flavonoids;
menthoside, rutin and others. Miscellaneous; rosmarinic acid, azulenes,
choline, carotenes etc.
Actions
·
Carminative
·
Anti-inflammatory
·
Anti-spasmodic
·
Aromatic
·
Diuretic
·
Sedative
·
Diaphoretic
·
Anti-emetic
·
Nervine
·
Anti-microbial
·
Analgesic
·
Stimulant
·
Stomachic
·
Rubefacient.
Indications - Peppermint is an excellent
carminative, having a relaxing effect on the muscles of the digestive system,
combats flatulence and stimulates bile and digestive juice flow. It is used to
relieve intestinal colic, flatulent dyspepsia and associated conditions. The
volatile oil acts as a mild anaesthetic to the stomach wall, which allays
feelings of nausea and the desire to vomit, as well as slowing transit time and
being an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. Also used in the
treatment of ulcerative conditions of the bowels. Relieves nausea &
vomiting of pregnancy and travel sickness and to have a relaxing effect upon
the gall-bladder.
It
is a traditional treatment of fevers, colds and influenza. As an inhalant it is
used as temporary relief for nasal catarrh. It inhibits histamine release in
animal trials, though the amount of herb needed to exert these effects in
humans could be quite large. Where headaches are associated with digestion,
Peppermint may help. As a nervine it eases anxiety and tension. In painful
periods, it relieves the pain and eases associated tension. Peppermint water
helps to prevent painful and cracked nipples in breast feeding.
It
is a great remedy for irritable bowel, mixing the herb or oil with slippery
elm, gives great relief. In studies there was a 50% reduction is symptoms for
over 75% of the patients who tried it. Its effectiveness helps to reduce
colonic spasms, stomach indigestion, infantile colic and gas. It is even believed
to enhance gastric emptying.
Other
uses are for pain of shingles, memory loss, hayfever, chemotherapy induced
nausea, prostrate cancer, radiation damage, bad breath, herpes type 1,
headaches, muscle pain, stress and removing dandruff.
Externally
it is used to relieve itching and inflammations as well as showing
antimicrobial activity internally and externally. The oil has been shown to
inhibit Helicobacter pylori, staph aureus, E. coli, Listeria, Shigella,
Micrococuss flavus, Salmonella and a number of fungi.
Dosage - Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water
onto a heaped teaspoonful of the dried herb and leave to infuse for l0 minutes.
This may be drunk as often as desired.
Tincture:
l-2ml three times a day.
Cautions - Peppermint could cause problems with
oesophageal reflux and safe doses in pregnant women have not yet been
determined. Peppermint could increase the oral bioavailability of certain
drugs.
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